The season in pictures - part 5

By Martin Walker

We continue our review of the 2007-08 season…

December

Sunderland began the month in typical fashion - with a late winning goal!

December couldn't have started any better. Derby at home was one of many crucial, must-win games at the Stadium of Light and the Black Cats did it with an injury-time winner from Anthony Stokes.

Roy Keane's men took a total of seven points from six games throughout the month of December, despite losing three of them.

Their win over Derby was followed by a 2-0 defeat at Chelsea and a 1-1 draw at home to Aston Villa, when Danny Collins' last-minute 'winner' was ruled out.

They then went to Reading and lost 2-1 with a controversial late goal going against the Black Cats, and on Boxing Day Cristiano Ronaldo was at his best as Manchester United were 4-0 winners at the Stadium of Light.

But just three days later, Sunderland claimed another vital win against one of their relegation rivals, Bolton, with a priceless 3-1 victory.

The seven points saw Sunderland climb back out of the drop-zone and up to 17th in the table with 17 points from 20 games - and it was all to play for going into the New Year.

Click here to see a picture gallery of December.

December results:

Derby (H) 1-0
Chelsea (A) 0-2
Aston Villa (H) 1-1
Reading (A) 1-2
Man Utd (H) 0-4
Bolton (H) 3-1

League table at the end of December: